this weekend is about the battle of the countdowns, the countdown to the fiscal cliff and the countdown to kickoff at fed ex field. thank you for joining us for the news at 10.

i'm maureen umeh. attention-filled weekend as lawmakers try to beat the fiscal cliff clock and the redskins host the cowboys in one of the most crucial games of the season. we'll get to those stories in a moment. first, it was not quite the winter wonderland many of us hoped for. for a few hours, many of us saw the snow make an appearance today and now that most has turned to slush, forecasters are worried that near-freezeing temperatures could make for a dangerous situation on the road. tucker barnes has more. >> reporter: could be a couple of icy spots out there late, particularly north and west and we got the snow during the day anywhere between a trace and maybe two inches, if you have to the west of the city. let's go to the maps then, again, the system new winding down. you can see the last of it. there you go. pushing up now north and east of new york city. and still some leftover snow into connecticut and to boston and providence and they're getting leftovers. for us, the cloud cover and some clearing overnight. and that is the theme around

here. and that is bringing in colder air and dealing with winds tonight, maybe 25 miles an hour and during the day tomorrow. here are your snow totals at the airport. reagan national picking up a trace. bwi marshal, a half an inch and closer to an inch there at dulles and as i mentioned, anywhere between a trace of snow and two-plus inches to the west. and 48 in reagan national; 37 degrees at bwi marshal and overnight lows should dip and that is why there is a concern of black ice and spots. clearing skies, breezy and cold. winds northwest and gusting over 25 and more details on the weather coming up and this is a look at the amazing forecast. back to you. >> and thank you. remember, you can check the weather where you live and update them with the fox 5 weather app downloaded on your droid, ipad or.

>> i joy phone. and now to a developing story affecting every american. the countdown to the fiscal cliff. last night, president obama dressed the -- addressed the nation following a productive and yet failed attempt to strike a deal. he used the weekly address to urge the senate to put together a basic package to protect americans from an income tax hike. >> we can't afford a politically self-inflicted wound to our economy. >> tomorrow is setting up to be a critical day. house members return and senate leaders are hoping they would be able to offer compromised plan. they will have two days to strike a deal to avoid automatic tax hikes for everyone and also to avoid across-the-board spending cuts. audrey barns has more on that fiscal cliff countdown. >> reporter: lawmakers summoned to the white house for an emergency summit to try to hammer out a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff and describe the talks as productive. they didn't produce an agreement. from the senate floor, words of

optimism from minority leader mitch mcconnell. >> we're engaged in discussions, the majority leader and myself and the white house and in hopes that we can come forward as early as sunday and have a recommendation. >> reporter: harry reid took a cautionary town, perhaps to allay the fears of americans who are wonder how long going off the cliff will affect their paychecks. analysts say taxes on people making between 50,075,000 a year will go up an average of $2,500. >> whatever we go up is going to bem perfect. some people are not going to like it and some will like it less and that is where we are. i feel confident we have an obligation. >> reporter: president obama said that it's important for congress to vote on some type of package before it expires. >> if the agreement is not reached in time between senator

reid and senator mcconnell, i will urge senator reid to bring to the floor a basic package for an up-or-down vote, one that protects the middle class from an income tax hike, extends the vital lifeline of unemployment insurance to two million americans looking for a job and lace the ground work for future cooperation on more economic growth and deficit reduction. >> reporter: the current congress will be in session until january 3rd. after that, 13 new senators and 82 new house members will take over and unher it the huge problem out of the congressional gates. audrey barns, fox 5 news. love that song. redskins fans coming down to tomorrow night's kickoffs against the rival, the cowboys. a lot is on the line and lindsay murphy joins us now. feels like christmas eve all over again. >> and i am going to -- some

football. >> reporter: redskins have had nailbiters this year and this is the first since 1979 that both of the teams were fighting to make it in the season. >> and everyone in the media, you could not have scripted it better. >> i know. >> and this is against the most hated rival. >> reporter: they would guarantee themselves at least a wild card spot if the bears and vikes lose. they must beat dallas to win the division and advance to the post season. tomorrow will be the final game of the season for dallas if they lose and this is an eerily familiar feeling for cowboys who lost to the gins in this situation last season. the g-men went on to win it all. the cowboys lost in the 2008 regular season finale to miss the play-offs and the redskins, on the other hand, can they make the post season if they

lose, as i explained earlier and they hope at home, the last couple of weeks will provide momentum in this game. after all, the last six weeks have felt that way. >> our back's been against the wall. make sure. and everybody's going to be playing. >> these are the games you remember the rest of your life, winner go home. i don't care what play-off game when i look back as an assistant or head coach, you go back and you think about the great experiences you had or the bad memories you have and you want to take advantage of the opportunities that exist. >> they don't come around often. the players are not trying to make it seem like a great deal, and robert always has the greatest quote. >> uh. >> don't make any moment too big that you can't seize it. >> i like that. >> and don't make it too big.

>> right, and kind of take control of the situation. >> yes. >> i think that is the mindset they take the last six weeks, the way they're going to go into the game on sunday and i am interested to see what fed ex field is going to do. >> yeah. >> >> we know rfk used to be rocking and with some standing room only. >> our facebook fans weighed in. we asked them what they thought the skins need to do to beat dallas tomorrow. john j.dub wesley told us tighten up on the defense, especially the secondary. >> agree. >> okay. >> she said play -- the super bowl show, she no mercy. how about that? >> i like that. >> did you tweet that? >> i did not. i'm not royal sweety. >> i thought you did. >> and bob got more specific. he said and run morris and protect rg3 and scare romo. >> he said he will set the record for the redskins for a single season rushing and that is key to this game. >> okay, what do you call it,

quarterback? >> yes. >> and they know what they're doing. >> of course, there was a lot of trash talking on our facebook page, too. keep it friendly and we want to thank you for commenting. thanks for that and thank you, lindsay, for that. >> it was a good time. >> and. coming up, after being hospitalized for more than a month, we have an update on president george h.w. bush's status. now details surrounding the new york subway death also. we have a suspect. that person is under arrest and accused of a hate crime. and a disturbing story from the middle east. dozens of people dead after drinking cough syrup. those stories and more coming up on the news at 10. news at 1

. president george h.w. bush is out of intensive care and back in a regular room in a houston hospital. the elder former president has

been hospitalized since the day after thanksgiving for what a spokesman called a bronchitis- like cough. but he developed a fever last sunday and was moved to the icu. at the time, he was reportedly on the liquid diet, though a spokesman didn't say why. president bush is 88 years old. the woman charged with pushing a man to his death in front of a subway train is accused of a hate crime. erica menendez is accused of shoving an indian man on to the tracks in new york city, the second such killing in a month. she told authorities she hates muslims and hindus. prosecutors believed she assumed the victim practiced one of those religions. the first legal action is underway in the school shooting in newtown, connecticut. the lawyer asked to sue the state of connecticut for $100 million on behalf of a six-year- old survivor. the lawsuit is over school security. the lawyer said his client heard screaming and gun fire over the school's intercom. the claim against the state is that it failed to protect the

child from foreseeable harm. states are generally immuned from such lawsuits, so the suit can't go forward unless the state agrees to allow it. one of the suggestions for making schools safer is to arm teachers. the state of utah is giving 200 teachers training to handle concealed weapons. claudia cowen has more. >> reporter: with the prospect of tighter gun laws in the new year, some states are trying to figure out how to navigate the spike in ammunition and gun sales. in colorado, for instance, law enforcement officials say they need more money to conduct the surge in criminal background checks which are required for gun buyers and they planning to ask lawmakers a half a million to speed up the process, which used to take a half hour and now takes a week. it has one lawmaker suggesting those who want a gun to pay for the background checks themselves. clare leavy, a democratic lawmaker out of boulder, telling the denver post, quote, anyone else, whether it's a

teacher or law enforcement officer, anyone else with a background check has to pay for it. the rest of the taxpayers are subsidizing background checks for gun buyers. meantime in utah, where it's legal to carry a gun in school, a record number of teachers attended a training seminar earlier week. >> and we are training school employees per a permit to carry a concealed firearm. in utah, they have the unique advantage of carrying in schools. we don't restrict law-abiding people with a concealed permit to carry in the school. >> reporter: hawaii, new hampshire, and oregon allow teachers to carry on campus with permits and other states are look into this idea. such proposals will face stiff resistance from gun control advocates, including teacher's unions who argue grans no place in schools. expect -- argue guns have no place in schools. expect the debate to continue as teachers and students return

from winter break. a fox 5 followup on a story we have been reporting for a few days now. the woman gang raped in india has died. the six men accused in the brutal attack are charged with murder. the 23-year-old suffered severe organ damage. the crime has people all over the world demanding harsher laws against rape, confronting the fact that women are often blamed and discouraged from reporting the crime and talking about the abuse they face every day. >> who do you have to be your own, some incident, they would want to come and stand close to you. >> if convicted, the six men charged in the case could be put to death. in pakistan, 33 people died and right now, investigators believe it's because of cough syrup. several more people are sick. this is the second time in recent months the government

said medicine caused several deaths. local officials believe the victims took the cough sir up to get drunk. it contained dextromethophene. the same thing happened in november killing 23 people. still ahead, new details out of fairfax county after police found a teenager dead inside his car last night. plus, after being jump on the job, a working student is kicked to the curb. coming up, a delivery man defends his choice to defend himself. we'll be right back. [ woman ] ring. ring.

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. d.c. police investigating a deadly hit-and-run. on friday, a teen was struck by a car at the intersection of new york avenue northwest and first street. the driver of the car stopped and then a tan suv with a d.c. license plate ran over the young woman and kept on driving. police say the teen died this afternoon at the hospital. to fairfax now where police

have made an arrest after finding a teen dead inside a car on friday night. the 22-year-old johnny bonilla is facing murder charges for stabbing 19-year-old xavier stringfellow to death. his body was found in a car off of chain bridge road and that is near glen gil drive in the vienna area. they did not know each other before they met up. >> what happened or why and you have to look at all of the possibilities. >> there was a struggle when the victim got killed and they believe the suspect may have tried to cover up the teen's death by making it look like he got into a car accident. a followup on a story we broke last night at 10. a deadly fire in the town home in greenbelt, maryland. ify officials say a woman died in the fire on friday night and two other people were hurt. it happened around 9 on laurel hill road. the fire investigators do not know the cause of the fire. the rowhouse is on either side of the town home were damaged. five people are displaced. a baltimore pizza delivery

man is speak out after he was fired for defending himself during an attack on the job. >> it was a good job. >> reporter: delivering pizza helped pay for college. >> i was getting 11, 12 an hour in tips. i needed the money. >> reporter: it was enough to make ends meet. that changed a few weeks ago. after sam was attacked making a delivery in this glen burnie neighborhood. >> and i am sure they called and ordered the delivery driver. >> reporter: he began to feel uneasy. before getting out of the car, he grabbed something to protect himself. >> it's a fiberglass rod that i put up my sleeve. nothing that i would have to use it, but more or less having a bit of comfort up my sleeve. >> reporter: it's a decision that may have fair isd this delivery driver from being seriously injured. >> he uck walked up and punched me in the face and i think it would be more likely to break

than hurt anybody. i covered my face and i was swinging like this as hard as i could. five people against one is not a good situation to be in. i thought i was about to die. they didn't get my money or pizza's and i called 911. >> reporter: during the days that followed, he was made a cook, his hours and salary slashed. sam had violated pizza hit's -- hut's weapon policy stating that a driver can't be armed. >> i am not saying we should arm all delivery drivers, but i am saying that pushing delivery drivers for defending themselves when is they're being attack side unjust. >> reporter: baltimore police arrested three of the five suspects, all of them are juveniles. scary moments in phoenix, arizona, this weekend, after a woman was kidnapped and forced to rob her bank. when coworkers arrived to work this morning, they found the woman with a device around her neck. fortunately, bomb squad crews were able to remove the device

and it turned out not to be explosive. still not clear if any money was stolen. it's one of the nfl's biggest rivalries, the redskins and cowboys. they may play each other twice a year. coming up, we'll talk to the redskins expert about how rare tomorrow night's matchup is. and later, part two of our battlefield medicine story highlighting a maryland soldier beating the odds and taking advantage of life. winter. winter. -- we'll be right back. 

. since 1960, the washington- dallas game is called one of the best rivalries. the cowboys come to fed ex field for a highly anticipated game of the nfl season. both teams have a lot on the

mind. mike richmond wrote two books about the redskins and joineddous fox 5 morning news yesterday to talk about the history between the two teams. >> good to have on you the show, man. >> yes. >> i know you're almost a lifelong fan. >> yes. >> and i want to show if you're a big redskins fan, this is a must have. >> yes. >> and what is in here? >> it's a great compilation of memorabilia. >> huh. >> from over the years and there is a lot of text in there. >> right. >> and that is some memorabilia. >> game program covers. >> we should have had you on before christmas. if you had a redskins fan on the christmas list, the redskins encyclopedia. >> the most comprehensive journalistic account of redskins history. >> very good. >> and all the way back to the early years of the team. >> you told me something i did

not know. this is a big game this weekend. it feels like a big game. it's bigger than we thought. >> this is a marquis matchup. the first game since 1979, and the two teams met. there were other games over the years between the teams, like 1976. the redskins were bidding for a play-off spot and locked up the nfc east. >> uh. >> and the last game at rfk. >> uh. >> the cowboys won a division 2007, the shawn taylor year, and this is. >> we're going show clips of the games you mentioned, the final game at rfk, which i was at. the redskins, they were not that great but beat the cowboys. >> right. >> and the shawn taylor game as well. of course, you know, when we think about the rivalry, we think about the big games, the nfc championship game, of

course and 1983n. terms of what we're looking at -- in terms of what we're looking at and where do you think this game will fall historically? >> this is coming behind the championship games, december 31st, 1972, a 26-3 redskins win. that was huge, sent the skins to super bowl vii. >> uh-huh. >> and the january of '83 game you that referred to, the 31 of 17 redskins victory. in fact, the cowboys hold a sizeable advantage in overall play and the redskins won both games. >> and this will match the '79 game in terms of the magnitude in the rivalry and. >> i often wonderd this. i hate the fact that dallas leads overall in this rivalry, and it's a sizeable lead, as you say, but in some ways, doesn't that make us that more jazz said up to get them and

put them down? >> absolutely. many, many people are envious of the cowboys and they hold this mystique. >> uh-huh. >> and this is a sense of arrogance about them. the hole in the city in texas stadium and the new stadium where god can watch them play. [ laughter ] >> and you want to stick it to the cowboys. maybe envious is the wrong thing, but there is a hatred toward the cowboys. >> right. right. over the years, during the tough times the redskins have had, which is much the last 20 years, unfortunately, and there is some bright spots here and there. one of the disappointing things has been the fact that many of these games have not been meaningful games. >> and that is correct. over the past two decades, the redskins have been struggling and really, when you look at it this way, since 1996, the year

after the cowboys won the last super bowl, the redskins and cowboys won the same number of play-off games. >> hmm. >> and the teams have two play- off games each. >> i am the redskins fan. they seem to get a pass when it comes to a lot of the national coverage and that and this year, i have to say i'm impressed that everyone across the league has focused on rg3 and what he brings to the table. >> he's revived the franchise and that deal is looking absolutely like the perfect deal. >> the thing to do. >> and they could not have done better and this is solidifying

his place in washington. and it's huge for tony romo of the cowboys. over the years, and he sort of gained the reputation where he hasn't been able to win the big one. >> right. right. >> and a lot is riding on the game. >> and both teams. if romo can't win the game, it solidifies the rap that he has and can you get us there and can't win the big one. >> right. >> and he's been putting up hundreds of yards of passing per game. >> uh-huh. >> that is their issue, and they can't win along with the passing. so, if he doesn't pull this out, i think he will have a bad rap for awhile. >> the first time redskins- cowboys meet since 1979, we're both at the end of the season and mike, it's great to you have here. >> thank you, tony. >> and. construction on the washington redskins training

camp could begin as soon as next week and skins will hold the camp the next eight years and the facility is going to cut about $10 million go behind the science museum of virginia and there will be a field house with locker and weight rooms and a drill fold and spectator areas. sports is next when the news at 10 returns. high praise for the other redskins rookie who could have a franchise record tomorrow night against the cowboys. lindsay murphy is next with sports. tucker. >> the snowstorm is out of here and left in its wake, a lot of wind. you have that less than 33 here in washington and hagerstown. blustery overnight and window sunday. the details on the weather forecast. including the redskins game sunday night and new year's eve monday night. 

. how many games has rg3 won

for the wizards? >> reporter: think technically, two o. on. >> i think technically two. >> yeah. >> he was there when they played the miami heat. >> oh, my goodness. >> last night, the wizards were like in the fourth quarter and throwing free-throws and a chance rang out. >> yes. >> and everybody was around like where is he? >> right. >> and rg3 is super, too and even in spirit. last night, it was the start of what would hopefully become a win streak for the wizards, a modest one. nonetheless, a win streak hoping to build off of the largest victory this year. eight points. they travel to chicago to face the bulls tonight. they have not won back-to-back games since april, when they finish the season winning the final six games tonight. randy whitman without crawford, the wizards trail by 14 and okafore hits the j. part of an 11-0 run to cut it to two, okafore, 18 points and boards. with the rebound and to bradley. look at the rookie with the

strong drive and the finish. he would have a team high 14 points tonight. and early in the fourth quarter, the bulls begin to pull away again. marco abelanelli hits the three and a game high off of the bench. the wizards over the bulls, 87- 77 and they're four and 24. the navy mid-shipman marching into at&t fight in the hunger bowl against arizona state. the sun devils leave 34-7 and throws deep to rashad ross, a 50-yard touchdown, his third of the game. arizona state scored touchdowns on the first nine possessions. in the third quarter, 48-7, one of the few bright moments. green on the kickoff return and navigates his way into the open field and goes 95 yards for the td and adds two more scores in the fourth quarter, dominated by the sundevils, 62-28. so much of the redskins success is given to robert griffin 3 and while his partner in crime alfred morris runs

under the radar. the sixth-round pick needs 104- yards on sunday to set the franchise record for rushing yards in a single season, set by clinton portis in tea. and so far, he has 1,014 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, named the pro bowl alternate, though many say he should have been in. here's more on the skin's secret weapon for success. >> and he runs hard. looks like where's playing pee wee football and never goes down. and that is just the way he runs. he takes good care of his body to take the pounding of 20 to 25 carries a game and sometimes more than that. so we have been proud of him and the way he's running. >> he's been consistent since he has been here and there is a rookie coming in and the way he worked,na is one of the reasons in the preseason. i thought he was going to be the starting tailback, the way he ran the football, the knowledge he had and blocked, he had approved to me through the preseason he could block

and that is at a high level to earn out back. jot greatest thing about alfred morris, he's so humble. >> yeah. >> and so nice. >> yeah. >> the guy who comes in and where's like i'm sorry i can't do an interview and feels bad if he can't talk. it's a full sprint. >> wow. >> all the way to the practice field when they're done. he's the one sprinting back. >> wow. >> and everything he does, he works hard and drives an old beat up car. >> a good example for exit kids out there. you can remain humble and be a success. >> and he said he's pushing for the underdogs. >> and light hope he and the team can pull it off tomorrow and -- . >> there we go. >> thank you. and tucker barnes has your full forecast when we return and the morning's wintery weather advisory has some drivers in the cold. the news at 10 is back in just minutes. [ singing christmas carols in background ]

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. 2012 has beenup eventful. we added that to christmas eve and since this is the last winter weather event of the year, lauren demarco headed out to see which areas got the most out of it. >> reporter: no major issues on i-270 as the snow came down and keeping the highways passible, salt trucks taking care of the rest. >> i have all-wheel drive. it's not bad. on the other hand, you don't want to go too slow. >> reporter: damascus, maryland, saw an inch and a half of snow. >> damascus and mount ayr get more snow on these smaller storms and other places do and that is maybe the higher elevation. >> reporter: it brought the kids outdoors for fun. four-year-old samuel baxter should sleep well tonight. he spent the day playing with neighbors and his big sister

abby. >> we're just sledding, having fun. >> reporter: you have had any snowball fights? >> my brother through a -- thirty two a snowball at me and i threw one back. >> reporter: who is better? >> mine. >> reporter: over in frederick, plenty of snowflakes but there was not much stuck to the ground. either way, john bennett said it's a welcome site over the holidays. >> puts you in the spirit. a good idea. [ laughter ] gonging of that? >> a great idea. i don't know -- good idea. >> reporter: viewers helping us to paint the broader picture. the facebook fan uploaded a photo of snow in temple hills. kim wright said she saw plenty of white stuff in straussburg, virginia. diane sedlack snapped this shot in west virginia, and iris braxton in southwest d.c. captured a brief dusting on forrester street before the snow turned to rain. across the area, it was a day to bundle up. >> i wear shorts year-round,

and that is another day for me. >> and some of those who depend on the season for work were happy to have something to do. >> the more snow, the mormon quo make. we didn't get any of that last year. >> reporter: lauren demarco, fox 5 news. >> and the winter weather woes causing some frustration at area dmvs in the district. many stations did not open the doors until 10 a.m. no one was aware of the changes and look at how many people were waiting. >> not bad at all. >> and tonight, the temperatures are dropping and making -- >> fall something. >> yeah, and dangerous conditions on the road. what is it like on my road? >> tomorrow is beautiful. a lot of wind. >> and you're not saying that in. >> and that is going to be sunny. >> okay. >> and i want to show you something cool. >> right. >> and look at this satellite

picture. this is put up by noaa and this is showing the snow pack across the mid-atlantic. can you see the well-defined rain-snow line. >> yeah. >> and some three separate storms and looks like it's setting up each time right along 95. >> yeah. >> you can get snow packed to the north and west. if you're one of those that hasn't seen much snow the last week or so and you want some, get off of the phone, head north and west of the city and you should get -- . >> and damascus, an inch and a half. the area ranges from a trace to about two inches. a few spots to the west got more than two inches before you get into far western maryland. oxen hill away half an inch and two inches out toward front royal and up to two inches as well and cold temperatures and a lot of wind. right now, it's 40 degrees at reagan national and not feeling that warm. the winter is blowing out of the north and west gusting to 30. 37 in baltimore. the temperatures falling back

39, wow, changing as we speak. 37 in leonardtown. 36 this evening in frederick and gaithersburg and most of the area will fall at or below freezeing and we should hit 31, 32 in washington and as we mentioned, in for a cold one tomorrow and that bright and beautiful day. and talking about the cold temperatures here the next few days. the temperatures are going to be trending a little below average here and let's do winds and wind gusts and this is what you going to know and this is not only later tonight if you out walking the dog but during the day tomorrow and be ready for a windy one tomorrow. the winds are blowing, 33 in washington; 32, hagerstown and winchester 3223, leonardtown and this is a windchill value in the 20s and that is going to be in the teens and 20s and cold leave night with winds gusting tomorrow and that is

cold here. storminess out of here and quiet conditions and that is why some temperatures are held up a little git of lake-affect snow to the west and there it is. can you see it there and that is not impacting us and they got four to six inches in and that is holding off a bit. and let's go to the redskins forecast tomorrow night. if you're going to the game, should be nice and -- well, i want to say comfortable and that is not going to be comfortable. kickoff tomorrow night and when you go to the game, make sure you're ready for a cold one and breezy and cold overnight, winds north and west here at 10

to 15 miles an hour and nice with plenty of sunshine, and of course, even with the air temperature, that is nice and that is warm out. there the new year's eve activities, monday night and that should be dry, although we'll have clouds moving in about with temperatures in the upper 20s and some low 30s. another night to bundle up. >> yeah. >> and not expecting rain or snow. >> thank you, tucker. >> uh-huh. earlier on the news at 6, we shared a story about a marine from fredericksburg, maryland, whose experienced terrible injuries at war and has not lost the determination to live a full life and jennifer griffin has more on the story. >> can't do anything for himself. i take care every day what i need to do and have my

prosthetic arm on and ica make meals and feed myself. >> reporter: john peck and the military doctors who saved him are rewriting this chapter of battlefield medicine. doctors like colonel armanda who served in iraq in 2003, where he conducted brain surgery in an army field tent. >> it was an education. we were out in the dessert south of falugeja, 15 miles west of baghdad. we were in the open debtert area with limited resources and that is unheard of. >> reporter: he has conducted 600 brain surgeries in the past 12 years. making him one of the leading neurosurgeops in the world and wrote the book on decompressive craneiotmy. so much so when gabby giffords was shot, her civilian doctor called dr. reid and dr. armanda for advice. >> the biggest thing we're doing differently now is not

trying to remove every fragment of bone or piece of metal penetrating into the cranual vault compared to previous conflicts, we're doing a larger incision. typically, we'll leave half of the skull off anywhere between 4 to six months and it's longer than a civilian sector. >> reporter: during the 12 years while limb prosthetics improved dramatically for the wounded warrior, so have skull prosthetics, going fromplastic to a new and improved titanium resisting infection and allows better facial reconstruction for the patient. one of the patients works for him and he is a former special operator medic who was blown up in january 2009. his skull was smashed when he was thrown into a concrete mall. >> -- wall. >> it's like swimming with false clothing on. can you do it but you're not as efficient and you slower and takes a hard time to get there and you awkward. until the brain actually catches up with what you want

it to do, there is a significant amount of frustration. you know what you can do and you don't know how to get there. i could not filter, in other words w a frontal injury talking to you right now is that bright light or air conditioner going on right now, i couldn't concentrate. >> reporter: now, eric holt is on a medical fellowship at walter reed and studying ways to deal with traumatic train. he's investigating how to prevent brain trauma and post traumatic stress syndrome by anesthetizing the warrior on the battlefield blocking two nerves rather than using morph open, the battlefield drug of choice since the civil war. for losa peck, the medical advances gave her back her only son. >> and kip the reminding myself that i have him and he's got me. >> reporter: she sat by his bedside for 2 1/2 months at waiter reid with her hand on his chest so that he could feel her presence until he woke up.

>> i would take my ipod in there and put one ear bud in on his ear and mine. every day for 2 1/2 months, i would go and sit in his room and i would lay my hand on his shoulder or chest. like he would hear me. hang in there. >> reporter: hang in there he did and like man warriors on the mend, he's getting his life back on track. >> yeah, i don't have arms or legs, but like stuff can be worse. i mean i could have no mobility whatsoever. stuff can always be worse. there is something worse going on. the news edge is up next. we're in the final stretch of the looming fiscal cliff and looking ahead to lawmakers returning to capitol hill tomorrow. that is next on the edge. 

. what are you doing new year's eve? about a million people will be packed to ring in 2013. he's more on how they're getting ready. >> reporter: already decorated for the holidays, pressed for the world's biggest new year's party are underway in the big apple earlier today, time square alliance officials tested the confetti that will fall after midnight, throwing it out a window on to unsuspecting people on the streets and they will watch the ball drop monday night. the 2013 sign is situated on top of one-time square. it's seven feet tall. after four decades of dick clark helping america ring in the new year, 2013 will be the first celebration following his death. a special with his name and grades on it will be in the ball this year. we spoke with his fe